If onychomycosis has started to develop very recently, then treating nail fungus with apple cider vinegar, baking soda, eggs and other folk remedies will help to cope with it. In advanced cases, such solutions, ointments and compresses can be used only as auxiliary components.
Acetic acid has a good penetration ability, so it easily penetrates into the internal structure of the nail and creates an acidic environment there. The treatment is most effective when started at the first signs of changes in the color and structure of the nails.
Types of vinegar and its effects
Apple cider vinegar, as well as table and vinegar essence is used to combat onychomycosis. Reproduction of the fungus takes place in an alkaline environment, fungi do not tolerate acid, and vinegar creates an acidic environment.
Vinegar has the following effect on affected nails:
- Antiseptic. Helps prevent additional infections and prevents fungi from spreading to healthy nails and skin.
- fungistatic. The growth of fungi stops due to the lack of nutrient environment for them.
- Fungicide. There is the death of pathogenic microorganisms - fungi.
- Reinforcing. Prevents nails from breaking
- Prophylactic. Treating shoes and socks with a solution of acetic acid will help prevent onychomycosis.
- Bleaching. To return the nail to its natural color, to get rid of jaundice.
Synthetic vinegar has a low cost, but it is undesirable to use it for medical purposes. Onychomycosis can be treated with natural fermentation products. These are the types of vinegar:
- apples (based on apple juice);
- wine (from red and white wine);
- rice (from rice wine);
- cane (based on sugar syrup);
- malt (the main component is beer wine);
- balm (made from grape juice).
Essence is rarely used because there is a risk of developing tissue burns.
In what situations can it help?
Vinegar is usually used in addition to basic therapy. Self-medication is not recommended, as only a doctor can determine which specific pathogen is affecting the nails based on the results of tests and examinations.
To start the treatment of nail fungus with apple cider vinegar, you can use a 9% solution or essence, strictly following the recommendations. Fungi are highly sensitive to acidic environments, so regular use of vinegar makes the environment unfavorable for the proliferation of fungal infections, resulting in them stopping reproduction and dying.
The disadvantages of such a procedure include the possibility of relapse, so it is necessary to take preventive measures and carry out competent treatment to prevent the disease.
Baths and compresses can also be used in the early stages of the disease. And if the process goes on, the ointments will be more effective.
Methods of application
At the beginning of the disease, when you can still go through folk remedies, you will need to consult a doctor anyway. Only a medical professional can assess the severity of the condition and confirm that medication is not yet required.
There are several ways to use apple cider vinegar:
- baths (not only helps to treat fungus, but also has a positive effect on the skin of the feet);
- compresses;
- ointments;
- solutions;
- lotions.
Preliminary procedures
If you have sores and cracks on the feet, you should not treat nail fungus with vinegar.
Preparation for treatment is as follows:
- Take a warm bath for 15 minutes to soften the skin.
- Remove the horn layer with a pumice stone.
- The nails are cut and polished with a nail file.
- Wipe your feet well so that each toe is dry.
- The skin around the nails is lubricated with a cream (oily, for example, for children) to prevent excessive dryness and irritation.
How to treat nail fungus with apple cider vinegar
Plates
- A popular recipe is a bath with apple cider vinegar and soda. Dissolve 4 tablespoons of soda and vinegar in 4 liters of warm water. The feet are kept in the solution for 20 minutes, then the solution is washed with water and the feet are thoroughly dried.
- Soda in the amount of 1 tbsp. l. Pour 1 liter of water, add 50 ml of vinegar. The feet are soaked in this bath for 25 minutes, after which they are removed, but not washed for several hours.
- Celandine is part of foot baths in the treatment of advanced cases of onychomycosis. Crush a pack of dry celandine and add 1 liter of vinegar. The treatment solution will be ready for use after a month. The resulting tincture is filtered, pour 5 tbsp. l. salt and mix. Add 100 ml of solution to 3 liters of water, take a bath for 10 minutes. You do not need to wipe your feet after the procedure, you need to wait until they dry themselves. It is better to carry out treatment both in the morning and in the evening.
- A bath with essential oils (for example, tea tree oil, cinnamon, oregano, cloves, lavender) has an excellent antifungal effect, but first you need to make sure that you are not allergic to the oil. It is enough to add only 3 drops of essential oil to 2 liters of water in a bath with apple cider vinegar.
- Sea salt helps make nails stronger. Need a glass of sea salt and vinegar. Add 7 liters of boiling water. The tool is only suitable for people who do not damage the skin of the feet.
Compresses
- Moisten socks made of natural fabrics (cotton) with vinegar and wear for several hours in the evening. Take off your socks before going to bed.
- Soak a cotton pad in plenty of vinegar (ordinary or apple), apply to the damaged nail and apply a bandage to your finger. With such a compress you need to walk for 3 hours.
- Add 1 tablespoon iodine (3 drops). l. vinegar. Apply the product to the nails and cover with a bandage. Keep the compress once a day for an hour. For more than 14-21 days, there is no need to perform the procedure to prevent adverse effects on the thyroid gland.
Ointment
To prepare the ointment you need:
- Take a chicken egg and pour 100 ml of vinegar essence into it.
- When the crust is dissolved, remove the film.
- Melt 200 g of butter and add to the mixture.
- Apply ointment to damaged nails.
- Wrap the film and apply the ointment on the nails for 8 hours.
You can also make your own ointment based on dimethyl phthalate. To do this, mix 1 tsp. 1 raw chicken egg from this solution, 1 tbsp. l. vegetable oil and 2 tbsp. l. vinegar essence. After applying the ointment to the nails, they are tightly wrapped with a film, covered with woolen socks. It is necessary to sleep all night with the medicine on the nails and wash the product only in the morning.
Solution
The antifungal solution consists of 3 components - 3 raw egg whites, 2 tbsp. l. the essence of vodka and vinegar. The solution is first applied to the gauze bandage, and then this bandage is kept on the nails for 10-15 minutes. Such a solution can not be stored for more than a quarter of an hour, because it contains the essence of concentrated vinegar.
Lotions
- Mix 2 tbsp. l. Spoons of vinegar with 3 egg whites (raw) and 2 tbsp. l. vodka. The mixture should be stored in the refrigerator. The drug is applied to the prepared nails (the gauze is moistened there) and kept for 15 minutes. The procedure is repeated three times. Eggs with vinegar have a good effect in the treatment of fungus on toenails.
- Glycerin lotions are also prepared in 15 minutes. Mix equal amounts of glycerin, alcohol and vinegar.
The procedure is performed every day for 7 days, after which there is a break of one week and the period is repeated. The treatment is carried out until a full-fledged healthy nail grows.
Contraindications
Treatment with vinegar is prohibited for allergic reactions to it. You should stop the procedure immediately with the appearance of edema and rashes on the skin. To check for allergies to vinegar, dilute it halfway with water and rub it on the inner surface of the elbow.
Baths should not be performed if there are wounds on the skin and any inflammatory processes. An acidic environment will only increase inflammation. Skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis are also contraindicated.
Children under the age of 12 should not be treated with apple cider vinegar to treat nail fungus.
Vinegar is contraindicated during breastfeeding. It is also undesirable to use vinegar-based products during pregnancy. If the attending physician allows the use of such drugs for the expectant mother, the vinegar is diluted twice as much as usual in water and minimizes the concentration of the substance.
Reviews
- At first glance, the woman, 32 years old: "I acted as soon as I saw that the nail on the big toe began to change color and turn yellow. My husband suffers from nail fungus and I know how long and difficult the treatment is. began to do. After 2 weeks I felt better. A month later the disease completely disappeared. Nails, especially those with a fungus from their relatives need to be carefully monitored.
- Second look, a 46-year-old man: "After entering the pool, my nails developed fungus. Besides, I did not pay attention to it for a while, I thought it was just a change in the color of the nails. I'm sorry I didn't do it right away. Now I need to be examined by a mycologist. They said that I will be treated for about a year. In addition to the main medicine, the doctor said that you can make an ointment based on vinegar and eggs at home.
- Third view, woman, 67 years old: "I often go to the country and work in rubber boots in the garden in rainy weather. For many years everything was fine, and last year a fungus suddenly appeared. A neighbor advised me to compress with apple cider vinegar, He treated the nail fungus himself. I did it for 2 weeks, but it did not improve and I went to the clinic. The doctor looked at my nails, prescribed tests, and then prescribed an ointment. And he said that apple cider vinegar is a good tool, but my work continues, without medicationit was impossible to do.